Bart is captivated by the new teacher at Springfield Elementary, and goes all-out to win her over. Meanwhile, Homer buys a new brand of "milk" that causes early puberty, which for Bart means stepping up his wooing game, while Lisa deals with a slight case of acne that introduces her to the world of makeup and subsequent popularity.
Tropes:
- Amazonian Beauty: Bart's new teacher, Carol Berrera, is in the military reserves and goes sleeveless to show her toned arms. Her overall tough attitude is what attracts him to her.
- Art Shift: The Couch Gag shows the characters in a more serious design scheme with Homer fighting crime from his couch and with 80's visuals, like if Miami Vice was animated.
- Gave Up Too Soon: When it seems it'll rain at a party and her makeup will be ruined, exposing her acne, Lisa decides to be true to herself and removes her makeup, revealing that her acne is gone. She ruined her newfound popularity for nothing.
- Hot for Teacher: Bart's crush on his new teacher. When he asks Milhouse if he's dealt with anything similar before, Milhouse admits he used to have a thing for Edna Krabappel.
- Loophole Abuse: The new milk has quote marks for the word "milk". In one ad for the product, someone says it cannot be legally called milk.
- One Dialogue, Two Conversations: When Marge looks to cover up Lisa's acne with make-up, Lisa asks if it is cruelty free, meaning it wasn't tested on animals. Marge reassures her that she'll be gentle putting it on.
- Perma-Stubble: Homer tries to teach Bart how to shave, but Bart notices Homer's razer still has the plastic cap on it. Homer removed the cap and actually shaves off his stubble, and is pleased to find an impressive chin hiding under it. He rushes over to Marge to show her, only to find his stubble has grown back.
- Pint-Sized Powerhouse: In the end, Homer knows Maggie's still drinking the new milk when he sees her easily lifting Bart and Lisa.
- Retraux: The "La-Z Rider Couch Gag" is a throwback to an 80's visual style. It has an overlay effect representing visible tracking lines from the worn and dirty video heads of a VHS player.
- Series Continuity Error: Homer taught Bart to shave in "One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish." In that instance he used the razor correctly, though he cut himself plenty of times.
- Shout-Out: The episode's title is a play on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
- When Berrera asks Bart if they'd like to come sometime on a Tuesday afternoon, Bart has a daydream in which he and Berrera hop on Monopoly-like continents around the world and blow up foes with guns and dynamite (and drink from the heart of one of the foes), all set to "Tuesday Afternoon" by The Moody Blues.
- According to Principal Skinner, Bererra has a cat named "Bowie", which was an homage to David Bowie (who died on the same day the episode aired).
- Thinks of Something Smart, Says Something Stupid: Bart has a crush on the new teacher.Bart's Brain: All right, time to show this naive young veteran what happens when you call on Bart Simpson.Bart: Ma'am, my name is Bart, and I am glad to have you as my teacher.Bart's Brain: What the hell!?
